Action Francaise

Action Française is a far-right nationalist political party in France that was founded by Maurice Pujo and Henri Vaugeois on 20 June 1899. Charles Maurras became the party's chief ideologue, and the party supported the restoration of the monarchy, the restoration of Catholicism as the state religion after the 1905 secularization of the French government, federalism, anti-communism, and animus against Jews, Freemasons, foreigners, and Huguenots. The party's popularity declined as fascism rose, and the party supported Philippe Petain's dictatorship in Vichy France during World War II, serving as the only party in the government by 7 December 1941. After the fall of Vichy France, Maurras was imprisoned for life, but the movement survived for decades after the war, with its ideas remaining influential in France despites its declining popularity.